Gallery

Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.– Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

Please enjoy this small gallery of images and videos of things we love and care about: the Franklin River, remote wilderness and whitewater rafting in SW-Tasmania.

Mike holding a young freshwater crayfish. Tasmania is the world's hotspot of freshwater crayfish diversity. Many of our species are found nowhere else on Earth, and some have very restricted distributions within Tasmania. Consequently, and due to other factors such as loss of habitat and environmental degradation of water catchments, some are listed as threatened species. Read more.

Reflections of the impressive 'Verandah Cliffs' on the Lower Franklin River

Tasmanian Pepperberry – Tasmannia lanceolata

Tasmannia lanceolata, commonly known as the mountain pepper. The leaf and berry are used as a spice, typically dried. Mountain pepper was used as a colonial pepper substitute. More recently, it has become popularised as bushfood condiment. It can be added to curries, cheeses, and alcoholic beverages.

‘Great Ravine’ whitewater rafting

Running Corkscrew rapid in the Great Ravine, Franklin River Rafting. Photo by Dave J.

Flat Island – Franklin River

Stop over at Flat Island along the Lower Franklin River. Photo by Katy G.

Coruscades whitewater rafting

Running Coruscades in the 'Great Ravine', Franklin River Rafting. Photo by Katy G.

Camp life

Cooling the drinks in the Franklin River

Irenabyss

Drifting through the 'Irenabyss' (greek for chasm of peace)

The Forceit

The Forceit in the Great Ravine is a fun and photogenic rapid.

Sunset on the Franklin River

Sunset on the Franklin River captured by Glenn J.

Native Laurel

Native laurel (Anopterus glandulosus) is found only in Tasmania, where it is commonly found as an understorey shrub in wet eucalypt forest and rainforest.

Day 3 on a Franklin River rafting expedition... Food is on! Our senior guide Brett is putting the finishing touches on a buffet style lunch at the Beach on the Franklin River. Fresh Tassie produce tastes even better in the great outdoors after an exciting mornings rafting.

Visit from the local's. The spotted tail quoll (marsupial tiger cat) is native to Tasmania with wet forests as its preferred habitat. Although they are quite rare, we regularly encounter them on the Franklin River. Photo by Alwyn S.

Sunrise on the Gordon River

Reflections and ripples on the way out to Strahan from Sir John Falls.

The oldest known human habitation of people in the southern hemisphere during the last ice age. Photo by Dr. T Ruff

Iconic Rock Island Bend

Few Australian photographers have been as influential as the late Peter Dombrovskis. Over 20 years, he created a new image of Tasmania. Dombrovskis' most famous photograph, Rock Island Bend, was the iconic image of the campaign to stop Tasmania's Hydro-Electric Commission damming the Franklin River. When it appeared as a full-page advertisement in the Herald just before the 1983 federal election, the caption was "Would you vote for a party that would destroy this?" This photo is by Wolfgang Glowacki

Irenabyss the ‘Chasm of Peace’

The "Irenabyss" was aptly named by senator Dr. Bob Brown in 1977 from the Greek words for "peace" and "chasm". He dropped a stone tied with twine and it found the bottom 63 feet (20 metres) deep. Photo by Mike Fink

Leaving the Great Ravine

in 1849 Government surveyor James Calder tried to cross the Franklin River at the Great Ravine and after numerous failed attempts called it "this hideous defile"

Walking towards Frenchman’s Cap

Frenchmans Cap (1446m) with its imposing white quartzite dome is the monarch of the South West. Photo by Mike Fink

Lunchtime

Lunchstop in Propsting Gorge, hanging out in the sunshine. Photo by Glenn J.

Blushrock Falls

One of Tassies many impressive waterfalls. This one is Blushrock Falls, around 70m high and plummets almost straight into the Franklin river. It's name is derived from the blushed red colour of rock. Photo: A. Simple

Reflections of limestone cliffs along the lower reaches of the Franklin River Tasmania.This area features habitats of plants and animals that are rare, magnificent natural scenery and an impressive assembly of aboriginal sites dating back to the last ice age.

Videos

Some of our Spring 2018 Franklin River rafting trip highlights. It’s been a great season so far. Thanks to all the intrepid rafters and our guides. Be safe out there!

Happy New Year!

Experience the Franklin River shows some of our favourite footage from 2015/16 – at Tasmania, Australia. Watch video on youtube

A few snippets of the many good times rafting the Franklin River in the years 2014/15 – at Tasmania, Australia. Watch video on youtube

VIDEO Highlights from a picture perfect Franklin River Rafting trip, sunshine, some rain and loads of white water. The first trip of the season presents the Franklin River swept clean by the winter floods. Watch video on youtube

VIDEO: High water run through Descension Gorge, Class III-V whitewater rafting on the Upper Franklin River. Watch video on youtube

VIDEO With a wingspan of up to 2.74m, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the largest raptor in Australia. A lanky bird, it hunts by high soaring flight, circling up on thermal air currents for hundreds of meters and sailing out on upswept wings, its tail fanned and diamond-shaped. Watch video on youtube

VIDEO Echidnas, or spiny ant eaters as they are sometimes known, are monotremes (mammals that lay eggs). They have many features which are reptilian in nature such as egg laying, legs that extend outward then downward, and a lower body temperature (about 31-32 C), than other mammals. Surprisingly, echidnas are good swimmers, paddling about with only the snout and a few spines showing. Watch video on youtube